Latch for automobile-hoods



T. J. KEHOE.

LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILE HOODS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-8. 1917.

1,364,283. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

514012144601 Thomas J, ffe/zoe 1 MWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'rnomsa. xenon, or TOLEDO, omo, ASSIGNOR r0 Tim wmmzsovnzanmn comramr, or TOLEDO, 01110, A conrona'nonor 01110.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs J. KEHOE, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0: ledo, in the county .of Lucas and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches for Automobile- Hoods, of which I declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in latches for motor vehicle hoods.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved latch for motor vehicle hoods, which will be very sightly in appearance and in which the moving parts will be protected from the weather so as to revent their rusting and sticking. A'

urther object of my-invention is to provide an improved hood atch which is very simply and conveniently operated. A further clearly efined and pointed out in the appended claims.

' A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying rawing, forming a part of this specification, .in' which Figure I is a view in side elevation showing a 'hood equi ped with latches constructed in accor ance with my invention. Fig. II isa detail, sectional view, taken substantially on the line II--II of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a transverse, sectional view, taken substantially ontheline IIL-III of Fig. II and,v A I i IY is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view, taken substantially on the line IV-IV .1 of Flg. II.

In the I drawings, similar reference numorals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawings, the frame 10 carries the radiatorv 11 and the hood, comprising the upper part Specification of Letters Patent.

the numeral 14, are constructed Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed August a, 1911. Serial No. 185,118.

lower edge of the upper part 12, and which i may be lifted in order to permit the driver to get access to the engine. The hood latches, which are designated generally by in accordance with my invention.

The post 15 is provided with the base flange 16, which is secured to. the frame member 10 by means of the screws or rivets 17. bald post is provided with a head 18. A cylindrical casing 19is provided with a central opening 20, in the base thereof, through which the post 15 passes, said casmg being slidably and rotatably mounted upon sa1 post. A plug 21 is screwed into the upper end of the cylindrical casing 19. A sp r1ng 22 is disposed around the post 15, within the casing 19, being compressed between the head 18 on said post and thebase of the casing 19. The casing is provided with an integral base flange 23, which is eccentricall disposed relative to the axis of the cylin rical casing 19, as clearly appears from Fig. III of the drawing, and which is provided with a cam surface 24, on its lower face, as is shown in Fig. II. A channel section 26 is' secured to the hood member 13 by means of the rivets 25, and said channel section is provided with inclined ends or flanges 27 forming cam surfaces, as is shown in Fig. IV of the drawing. Casing 19 is provided with an integral, laterally extending haiidle 28, by means of which the casing 19 may be lifted and rotated in order to operate the latch. From the description of the parts given above, the operation of my device should be very readily understood. In order to release the latch, the operator grasps the handle 28 and rotates the casing 19, on the post 20-. This carries the eccentric base flange 23 out of engagement with the member 26, which is carried by the hood, and serves to release the hood so that it may be lifted. To fasten the which the extension 23 may be seated depending upon the strength of the spring within the casing. The casing then can be rotated by the handle 28, so as to bring the until the flange'is completely in engagement 7 with the upper edge of the chan11el26, as

shown in Fig. IV. The spring member 22 exerts a yielding pressure downward upon the casing so as to hold it yieldingly and firmly in engagement with the channel 26 carried b the hood 13, which is securely held in p ace.

It will be seenthat the head 18 on the post 15 furnishes a bearin for the casing 19, so that the casin is hel against lateral movement. All 0 the working parts are enclosed within the casing, and the casing presents a very sightly appearance and the parts are protected from water and moisture, so that they will not rust and become inoperative due to their sticking. The device can be operated in a very simple and conveni-,

ent manner, and will hold the hood in place with a yielding pressure, and the latch has a sufficiently wide range so as to take care of variances in manufacture due to the different positioning of the member 26 on the hood 13, the latch being equally effective, no matter what the po'sitlon of the member 26, within a reasonable range. Either one of the projecting flanges of channel 26 may be engaged by the base flange 23.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention, which I have here shown and described, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention. I have found, however, that this particular embodiment is desirable from many standpoin-ts, and, therefore, I desire to claim my invention specifi cally as well as broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a post adapted to be carried by a relatively fixed part, and pro vided with a head; a cylindrical casing slidably and rotatably mounted on said post, and provided with an integral laterally extending handle, and an eccentrically disposed integral base flange, with a lower cam surface; a spring disposed within said casing between thebase thereof and the head of said post; and a member adapted tobe carried by a relatively movable part, and provided with an upper cam surface, adapted to be engaged by'the lower cam surface of said fla 2; A device of the class described comprising the combination of a post adapted to be carried by a relatively fixed part and provided with a head; a cylindrical casing slidably and rotatably mounted on said post, and having a bearing on the head thereof, said casing being provided with an eccentrically disposed base flange; spring means normally forcing said casing downwardly; and a member adapted to be carried by a relatively movable part and having an inclined cam surface engageable by said base flange.

3. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a post; a casing slidably and rotatably carried by said post and having an eccentric base flange; spring means normally forcing said casing downwardly; and a member having an inclined cam surface adapted to cooperate with said base flange.

4. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a fixed vertical post; a casing slidably and rotatably carried by said post and having an eccentric base flange; spring means normally forcing said casing downwardly; and a member having a plurality of parallel inclined cam surfaces.

each of which is engageable with said base flange.

5. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a post adapted to be carried by a relatively fixed part; a casing having an integral base flange slidably and rotatably mounted on said post; resilient means for normally forcing said casing and flange downwardly; and amember adapted to becarried by a relatively movable part, and adapted to cooperate with said base flange to vary the tension of said resilient means when said base flange is rotated in .contact with said member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' THOMAS- JI EHo 

